Improved ditching-machine



UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

I. S. WEAVER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

IMPROVED DlTCHlNG-MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters'Patent No. 56,299, dated July 10, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I. S. WEAVER, of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Iinl. 4provement in Ditching-lvfachines; and I do Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of f myimproved ditching-machine, taken through the line a a', Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view, showing the dial, index, and crank-wheel for raising and lowering the cutter. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken through the line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken through the line x x', Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view, taken through the line z z, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail view, showing the form of the cnt ter before being bent into the proper form for Lattachment to the machine. Fig. S is a detail sectional view taken through the line y y', Fig. 1.

My invention has for its obj ect to furnish an improved machine for opening out ditches preparatory to putting in tile; and it consists, first, in the combination of an arch or frame with the sills of the machine, with the forward axle, and with the king-bolt and friction-wheel; second, in the combination of the guide-wheel, standard, and lever with each other, with the frame of the machine, and with the forward axle; third, in the combination of the cogwheel with the rear axle and with the elevator-belt; fourth, in the combination of a crank and pinion wheel with the toothed side bars of the elevator, for the purpose of raising and lowering the cutter, as desired; fth, in the combination of stiening and guide bars with the side bars of the elevator and with the inclined grooved side bars of the frame; sixth, in the combination of a dial, index, and cogwheel with the pinion-wheel that raises the cutter, for the purpose of indicating the exact depth of the cut; seventh, in the combination of a spring and catch with the cog-wheel, for the purpose of holding the cutter at any desired elevation; eighth, in the shovel, constructed as described, in combination with the side bars of the elevator.

A are the fore wheels, and B the rear wheels, upon which the machine is carried. The fore wheels, A, revolve upon the axle C inthe ordinary manner, but the rear wheels, B, and axle D revolve together. The axle O is slotted longitudinally to receive the arch or frame E, attached to the forward ends ofthe sills F and G of the frame of the machine.

The two ends or side arms of the arch E are securely attached to the forward ends of the sills F and Gr, as shown in Fig. 2, and it has a cross-bar, ef, extending across it at a distance from its front equal to the diameter of the friction-wheel H.

.The king-bolt I passes down through the axle O and through the friction-'wheel H, thus coupling the forward end of the frame to the axle O in such a way that the said forward end ofthe :frame may be moved to the one side or the other without changing the position or direction of the wheels.

The forward ends of the sills F and G are connected and heldin their proper relative position by a cross-bar, J.

K is a standard passing down through the center of the cross-bar J, and held at any desired elevation by a pin passing through holes in said standard, as shown. Upon the lower end of this standard revolves the guide-wheel L, which, after the ditch has been opened to a sufcient depth, keeps the machine in the line of the ditch by coming in contact with its sides.

IVI is a lever, one end of which is pivoted to the axle O, and the other end extends back, where it can be reached and operated by the driver.

The standard K passes up through a slot formed in the said lever M. as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, thus furnishing a means of guiding` the cutter by hand until the cnt is deep enough for the guide-wheel L to operate.

The rear ends of the sills F and G are supported by the axle D, as shown in Fig. 1.

To the inner sides of the sills F and Gr are attached the side bars, Nl and O, ot' the frame, being inclined at an angle of about forty-live degrees. The inner sides of these bars N and O are grooved longitudinally in such a way that the shoulder on the lower side of the groove shall project farther than on the other. Within these grooves slide the strengthening and guide bars P and R, attached to the sides of the side bars, S and T, of the elevator, the lower edges of both bars resting and sliding upon the lower shoulder of the groove, as shown in Fig. 8. These side bars are securely connected to each other and to the inclined apron U by bolts or in any other convenient way.

In the edges of the apron U, at the corners, and at suitable distances apart along the sides, are formed notches, in which are pivoted friction-wheels V, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. These wheels are of a diameter a little greater than the thickness ofthe apron U, so that their faces may project above the side surfaces of the said apron both on the upper and lower sides. The ends of the slides or slats of the endless elevatoribelt W are carried by those wheels V as the said belt is operated.

The belt W is formed of bars or slats w' and square links fw?, both of which are cast of malleable iron. The bars w' are cast with a flange, w3, on their lower edges, projecting npward, as shown in Fig. 5, to prevent the dirt from slipping from the belt while being elevated. At the ends of these slats or bars w', on their under sides, are cast hooks or curls @04, which are cast sufficiently open to admit i the insertion of the cast links wz, after which `arms to the rear ends of the side bars of the elevator, and inclining in each direction from the central line, which receives the dirt from the elevator and guides it to each side of the ditch. This guide-plate is also provided with a flange, a', on its rear side, to prevent any of the excavated dirt from finding its way back into the cut.

Upon the upper edges of the side bars, S and T, of the elevator are formed teeth, into which mesh the teeth of the small pinions B'. Upon. the end of the shaft to which the pinions B' are attached is placed a crank-wheel, C', by means of which the elevator may be raised and lowered, as desired, to grade the ditch or to regulate the depth of each out.

D' is a cog-wheel meshing into the teeth of the pinion-wheels B'.

E' is a catch, held up against the teeth of the cog-wheel D' by the coiled spring F', said catch terminating at its lower end in an arm, by means of which it may be withdrawn from the wheel D' by the foot of the driver, leaving his hands at liberty to operate the crankwheel C' for raising or lowering the elevator.

To the end of the axle of the cog-wheel D' is attached an index or hand, G', and upon the side of the support of said axle is formed a dial or scale, H', so graduated as to show the exact depth of the cut.

To the lower ends ofthe side bars, S and T, of the elevator is attached the cutter I'. This cutter is made in the forni of an isosceles triangle, as shown in Fig. 7 The equal sides of the triangular cutter I' are laid with steel in the ordinary manner. The side corners are then bent up, as shown in Figs. l and 2 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7. These turned-up corners form the vertical or side cutters, and the third corner and ecutral part of the plate forming the shovel.

This cutter may be attached to the lower ends of the side bars, S and T, in any secure and convenient manner; but I prefer to attach it by bolts and nuts, or by screws, so that it may be removed for more conveniently sharpening it when required.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

l. The combination of the arch or frame E with the sills F G, the forward axle, C, the king-bolt I, and friction-wheel H, the parts being constructed and arranged substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the guide-wheel L, standard K, and lever M with each other, with the frame of the machine, and with the forward axle, C, substantially as described, and forthe purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the cog-wheel X with the rear axle, D, and with the elevator-belt W, constructed and arranged substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the crank-wheel C' and pinion-wheels B' with the toothed side bars, S and T, of the elevator, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination ofthe guide and stiffening bars P and It with the side bars, S and T, of the elevator, and with the inclined grooved side bars, N and O, of the frame of the machine, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of the index G, dial H', and cog-wheel Dl with the pinion-wheel B', substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of the spring F'. and catch E' with the cog-wheel D', substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

8. The shovel or cutter I', constructed, as described, in combination with the side bars S and T, of the elevator, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

I. S. WEAVER. Witnesses:

ALBERT MORY, J As. BENEDICT. 

